Shock and Awe: Turmoil Rocks the Southwest Region

Scene outside United Center in
Chicago, IL Friday evening.

What a wild ride it was for the ladies of the Southwest Region over the weekend. As the smoke settles, the region features three double-digit seeds advancing to the round of sixteen! That trio of political up-starts was headlined by (1) Sarah Palin, a political juggernaut herself only since bursting on the scene in 2008. Together the four women were able to knock off, among others, 4 current U.S. Senators, 1 rising State Governor and a current Justice of the United States Supreme Court. What we are left with is the former Governor of Alaska, a spunky (if not over-zealous) Florida Congresswoman, an outspoken CEO and former Senate candidate and a blog-writing say-anything daughter of a twice-failed Presidential-also-ran. Whew! Hold on to your seats as we work to sort this all out.

The Madness! started off early Thursday when (13) Sharon Angle toppled (4) Madeline Albright followed soon afterward by (12) Linda McMahon's surprise victory over (5) Elena Kagan. It became clear that these women were ready to rumble and had learned from their mistakes when the season began just a few short months ago in November. Friday followed suit as (10) Debbie Wasserman-Schultz stunned former First Lady (7) Laura Bush. But the real shocker came when (11) Meghan McCain, fresh off her blow-out victory of Presidential Daughter Jenna, stopped (6) Governor Nikki Haley in her tracks. Meghan showed the up-start Governor that the "new wave" of insurgent GOP women might be even stronger, deeper and - younger - than the 39-year old Haley (and nation's youngest governor) thought. After the victory, McCain posted to her twitter account "You including that in the memoir, honey?!" in what clearly seemed to be a jab at the still-reeling Governor. The post was removed within hours, and McCain released a statement congratulating Haley's "well-fought game" and "success during the season" and apologized for her "staffer's mistake."

Despite the scandal, all the upsets set the stage for a wild weekend - and how wild the Madness! was!

Saturday and Sunday were highlighted by four big wins for our four leading upstarts. Sarah Palin cruised to a victory over (9) Kay Hagan to set up a matchup later this week against the winner of the 12-13 matchup, Linda McMahon, who beat Sharon Angle. Both women, who failed in their bids for the Senate last November, played in a sloppy back-and-forth game that is, to date, the least-watched of the tournament. (More on the Palin-McMahon match-up in the look-ahead tomorrow).

The real excitement came at the bottom of the bracket where Meghan McCain was set to clash with (3) Barbara Boxer while Debbie Wasserman-Schultz looked to unseat (2) Dianne Feinstein. First, McCain took on the junior Senator from California Boxer.

McCain came out as dirty-sexy as ever and, to be honest, Boxer really was not in this one from the start. Maybe it was McCain's determination to move past the scandal from the day before or maybe Boxer still had not recovered fully from her close fight for re-election last November; but this one was never close; McCain led by 10 at halftime, and had added another 8 by the time it was all said and done. Boxer is a power-player (and she'll let you know it) and she will be an early-season favorite to make next year's tournament, but right now Meghan is not letting her star-power fade. And, given the result of the weekends final game, has set up what might well be the most explosive fight of the tournament...

...As Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz upended the other California Senator Dianne Feinstein. Miss Debbie, as her fans have begun calling her, pretty much dominated this fight, as well. Much like her political opponents, Miss Debbie wouldn't let Feinstein get a shot - or a word - in edgewise and really slapped her down.

Congresswoman Jesse Spano Debbie Wasserman-Schultz

As an aside, there was some early buzz among rabid PWiP basketball fans that, in fact, an impostor was imitating the Congresswoman, leaving Feinstein excited, scared and unable to focus on her opponent. But, Commissioner O'Connor quickly put those rumors to rest and said that she will not tolerate any form of cheating or tampering with results in her league. Miss Debbie and her fans cheered the decision after the game and dismissed the rumors. Feinstein, too, congratulated the Congresswoman and dismissed any wrongdoing.

Nevertheless, Friday's game is sure to be exciting! If Meghan McCain is dirty-sexy then Debbie is just plain dirty (or maybe pretty damn sexy herself?) and the two women are sure to put on a show for PWiP fans everywhere!